The Star Wars universe has built itself around strong characters. Anakin Skywalker’s turn to the Dark Side wouldn’t be nearly as compelling if we didn’t care about his relationship with Padme and Obi-Wan, and Han getting frozen in Carbonite wouldn’t hit nearly as hard if we didn’t care about the dynamic between him and Leia, Luke, and Chewie. So it’s great to see Star Wars Zero Company put its colorful cast of characters front and center of its initial marketing push.
Coming from former Firaxis devs under the new banner of Bit Reactor, Star Wars Zero Company is an XCOM-like tactics game that will see players commanding the titular squadron of elite for-hire soldiers set against the backdrop of the Clone Wars. They’ll do so as Hawks, an ex-Republic officer who will hopefully be the next in a long line of beloved Star Wars video game protagonists.
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Star Wars Zero Company’s Hawks Has a Lot to Live up to
Hawks is the Face of Star Wars Zero Company
Being the lead of a Star Wars video game is no small task. It immediately encourages comparisons to fan-favorite heroes like Kyle Katarn and Dash Rendar, who have held a close place in many Star Wars fans’ hearts for decades now. It also sets a high bar off the bat, as more recent protagonists like Star Wars Jedi‘s Cal Kestis have delivered strong character arcs and stellar performances.
A Star Wars video game lead needs to be the heart and soul of the experience, both in terms of gameplay and narrative. Without a strong lead, a Star Wars game can all too easily feel like a generic echo of the franchise’s more renowned stories. Star Wars Zero Company‘s Hawks needs to be something special.
Hawks Can’t Fall into a Common Gaming Pitfall
But there might be something standing in Hawks’ way. Star Wars Zero Company is putting character customization at the forefront of its current marketing. Players will be able to customize Hawks’ species, physical appearance, voice, and class. Gameplay-wise, that sounds very promising. It’s been a very long time since fans were able to create their own fully-fledged Star Wars video game character, and that could be a major boon for Zero Company.
Star Wars Zero Company needs to tread carefully, however. A fully customized protagonist still needs to have a distinct personality, especially when it comes to the Star Wars universe, where the “leader of a ragtag group” archetype has been used countless times before. During Zero Company‘s Star Wars Celebration panel earlier this year, the developers stated that Hawks is a “disgraced former Republic officer” who’s been forced to lead Zero Company after a disastrous final mission.
This is a great starting point for Hawks’ character, but it should be just that: a starting point. Star Wars Zero Company‘s Hawks needs some kind of unique character arc and definitive personality, regardless of how players have customized them.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Has Already Paved The Way
Widely regarded as one of the best Star Wars video games ever made, BioWare’s Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic should act as the guiding light for Star Wars Zero Company‘s Hawks. The main protagonist in KOTOR is fully customizable, from physical appearance to class and background, and their dialogue is all choice-based. But they still have a clear place in KOTOR‘s story, with scripted twists and turns sprinkled throughout. The player drives their character towards certain moments, and makes key choices along the way, but the protagonist is far from a generic archetype.